Nieto to be confirmed as Jacque replacement

Nieto to be confirmed as Jacque replacement

Fonsi Nieto will be confirmed as Olivier Jacque’s replacement in this weekend’s French GP in an announcement tomorrow (Wednesday).

Confirmation of Nieto’s ride dashes hopes that former British and World Superbike champion Neil Hodgson would take injured Jacque’s ride in Kawasaki’s factory squad.

Kawasaki confirmed this morning that Jacque had lost his battle to be fit for his home race in Le Mans this Sunday.

The former world 250 champion has conceded defeat in his battle to have recovered from the right arm injury he suffered in the Shanghai GP earlier this month and is now targeting a return to action in Mugello on June 3.

Nieto was favourite too land the vacant ZX-RR despite Kawasaki’s interest in Hodgson, who was considered because of his recent experience with Bridgestone tyres now he’s landed a testing contract with Ducati.

Spaniard Nieto, winner of five 250 GPs, had a verbal agreement with Kawasaki bosses made at the end of last year that if Jacque or team-mate Randy de Puniet got injured, he would be selected as substitute.